According to A&W Canada, within 15Km of my house, there are 8 restaurants...10 if you stretch it to within 20Km

I'm sure if I did a search I'd get similar results. Where I live we used to have one A&W in our indoor mall and that was it, then Boom, a few years ago A&W really took off and now there's at least one on every major street that goes through my part of Ottawa and they're in the process of building another one. Offhand I'd say there are more A&Ws than McDonalds and definitely more than Burger King and Wendy's combined.

Since we seem to have drifted away from IHOP or b or whatever, a funny story.

On one trip, the eating place closest to our hotel was a Waffle House. For those of you who have never been to one, the grills are right in full view of all the diners. My wife was not impressed by them as it seems they ask you if you want more butter on your fried grease.

Next night we drove to a nearby mall that had a Japanese hibachi restaurant where the grill is a part of the dining area. As the chef was preparing our dinners, my wife leaned over to me and said "Just like Waffle House." A young couple looking like they were are the first date, was seated next to us. The woman noticed I was laughing and trying not to do it out loud. So I leaned over and whispered my wife's comment to her. She started giggling and passed the comment on. Both were now laughing. We were whispering because we didn't not want to interrupt the chef's well timed patter. Plus the chef had large knives.

I know of at least 2 A&Ws building in my area, and I already have 3 that are close by, 1 within walking distance and 2 within 15 minute drive
None of them are attached to gas stations...
They actually seem to pop up along with Lone Star Texas Grill restaurants, these days

There are three near my place in Ottawa and one on my way to work in NB. I like their breakfast. One of the ones in Ottawa was just built in 2016, so it still has that new feel.

I can state with confidence that the highway from Alabama into the Florida Panhandle has, as is required by law, a Waffle House approximately every 10-15 miles. In case you decide to visit Fort Barrancas.

I think that would I10.
Question: is there a Starbucks in these Waffle Houses?

Wow, it was all a publicity stunt--I feel so betrayed. Does this remind anyone else of the A Christmas Story subplot where Ralphie couldn't wait to decode Little Orphan Annie's message with his decoder ring? And it turned out to be an ad for Ovaltine?

I did go sample their burgers with a friend though. They were... OK. The main attraction was at the special they were running (and may possibly still be, not sure) where the burgers came with a free beverage and unlimited fries. (One serving was enough for me, but my friend had several. They brought them promptly too, and kept offering more, unlike many "all you can eat" offers where they bring you one refill and then your server seems to hide..)

I entertained going in to try out their burger/fries a couple weeks ago, but decided against it because I donít want to reward click-baity behavior. Glad to know I didnít miss much. Too bad about the fries, though.

Wow, it was all a publicity stunt--I feel so betrayed. Does this remind anyone else of the A Christmas Story subplot where Ralphie couldn't wait to decode Little Orphan Annie's message with his decoder ring? And it turned out to be an ad for Ovaltine?

Forgive the dreail, but it was a decoder pin. I don't think any radio show ever offered a decoder ring, though there were other kinds of ring offered by Orphan Annie and other shows.

I used to have a Captain Midnight decoder badge that one of my uncles got as a kid and gave to me. I recalled it as a ring, and when i researched it i learned there were never any rings and recognized a photo of my long- lost badge. They were going for 50 bucks on eBay.